Politics
…demands sustainable welfare mechanisms
HUMAN Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a landmark salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing the decision as one of the most significant welfare interventions for Nigerian troops in decades.
Besides, HURIWA praised the honourable minister of Defence General Chritopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu for their consistent but subtle advocacy for the overall improvements of the welfare and well-being of the men, women and officers of the Armed forces of Nigeria who are at the forefront of the war on terror to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
For too long, the brave men and women of the Armed Forces have borne the crushing weight of Nigeria’s security burdens while receiving remuneration that fell far short of the enormous risks they confront daily. They have battled terrorists, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves and other violent criminal networks, often under the harshest operational conditions and with little public appreciation.
This salary increase is, therefore, more than an adjustment in figures; it is a long-overdue recognition that those who stand between the Nigerian people and forces of anarchy deserve dignity, respect and economic security.
HURIWA particularly commends President Tinubu for acknowledging that national security begins with the welfare of those entrusted with defending the nation. A hungry, poorly motivated and financially distressed soldier cannot be expected to deliver peak operational performance in an era when security threats have become increasingly sophisticated, technology-driven and transnational.
The prominent civil society organisation HURIWA, also applauds the visionary leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, whose reform agenda places troop welfare, technology, professionalism and operational excellence at the centre of military transformation. His emphasis on intelligence-led operations, drone technology, aviation capability, institutional discipline and meritocracy reflects an understanding that modern warfare is won not only by courage but by innovation, preparation and investment in human capital.
However, HURIWA warns that while the salary increase is historic and commendable, it must never become another isolated policy that fades with time. Nigeria has witnessed several well-intentioned welfare announcements that gradually lost value because they were neither institutionalised nor protected from inflation, economic shocks and policy inconsistencies.
If this bold intervention is to leave a lasting legacy, it must be backed by comprehensive legislative and institutional reforms.
The Federal Government should immediately initiate the establishment of an Armed Forces Welfare and Remuneration Commission, backed by an Act of the National Assembly, with statutory powers to conduct periodic reviews of military salaries, operational allowances and retirement benefits based on inflation, exchange rate realities and the cost of living.
HURIWA submitted that the welfare of those defending the nation should never depend on discretionary political decisions or the goodwill of any administration.
HURIWA further calls for the introduction of a comprehensive military family support programme covering quality housing, world-class healthcare, educational scholarships for children of serving and fallen personnel, expanded life insurance, mortgage facilities, psychological rehabilitation for combat veterans and accelerated pension administration.
The nation owes these heroes and their families more than applause; it owes them lasting security and opportunity.
The civil rights group also insists that improved remuneration must be complemented by sustained investments in cutting-edge military hardware, artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems, combat aviation, cyber warfare capabilities, satellite intelligence, indigenous defence manufacturing and continuous professional training. Better pay without modern equipment would amount to asking soldiers to fight twenty-first-century wars with twentieth-century tools.
HURIWA urges the National Assembly to seize this moment by enacting a comprehensive Military Welfare Protection Act that guarantees automatic and periodic reviews of military remuneration while safeguarding welfare provisions from political transitions and fiscal uncertainties.
Such legislation, HURIWA affirmed, would send a powerful message that Nigeria values those who risk everything to defend her sovereignty.
The association equally calls on military authorities to ensure that the salary increase translates into improved morale, stronger discipline, enhanced professionalism and greater commitment to the constitutional responsibility of protecting every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
Enhanced welfare should be matched by enhanced accountability, respect for human rights and strict adherence to the rules of engagement.
At a time when Nigeria continues to battle insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, violent criminality in the North-Central, oil theft in the Niger Delta and other emerging security threats across the federation, strengthening the morale of the Armed Forces is not merely desirable—it is a national imperative.
History has shown that nations that neglect the welfare of their armed forces eventually pay a far greater price in insecurity, instability and national decline. Conversely, countries that invest consistently in the welfare, professionalism and technological capacity of their military build stronger institutions, safer societies and more resilient democracies.
HURIWA therefore congratulates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking this bold and commendable step. The association urges him not to stop here. This intervention should mark the beginning of a new era in which the welfare of Nigerian troops is guaranteed by strong institutions, protected by law and sustained by deliberate national policy rather than treated as an occasional gesture.
Nigeria’s soldiers have faithfully stood guard over the nation through years of conflict, uncertainty and sacrifice. The nation must now stand firmly behind them—not only with improved salaries, but with enduring policies that honour their service, protect their families and secure their future.
A.I
Aug. 6, 2026
Tags: HURIWA President Bola Ahmed Tinubu